Meat tenderer



Oct. 19, 1937. G. LUNDQUIST i 2,096,120

MEAT TENDERER Filed Feb. 26. 1934 Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFRE.A g

1 Claim.

This invention relates to what may be termed meat tenderers. l

It is the general object of this invention to provide a novel device of cheap and simple construction, which can be used in cutting and pounding the muscular tissues and tendons of certain types of meat to make the same more tender. Y

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a device which can be run over meat to puncture the surfaces of the same at numerous points and cut the muscular fibers found therein.

Another object is to provide a device for pounding meat, which will puncture the surfaces of the same to make the meat more tender as it is pounded.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear from the follow--V ing description, made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughoutthe various views and in which,

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 ofV Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows, certain of the parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction thereof; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively views in side elevation of different pronged disks that are used.

Referring to the drawing, there is provided in accordance with the present invention, a cleaver having a handle 5 and a heavy blade 6 provided with a sharpened edge 1.

Formed integral with the blade 6 of the cleaver and projecting upwardly therefrom, as viewed in Fig. 1, at the forward end of the blade from the non-sharpened edge of the same, is a U-shaped bracket 8, the two arms of which run upwardly from the blade in spaced parallel relation. A pivot 9 is mounted in the upper ends of the two arms and extends between the same. Rotatably mounted on this pivot 9 between the two arms of the bracket 8 are a plurality of radially pronged disks l0 and Il, these disks being alternated. Each of the disks I0 and Il includes a central circular portion from which heavy radial prongs extend at regular circumferentially spaced points. These prongs terminate at their outer ends in sharpened wedge-shaped blades, having a width corresponding to the thickness of the disks. In the illustrated embodiment, each disk is provided with six prongs. The prongs of the disks Il are circumferentially spaced midway between the prongs of the disks l0 when the device is viewed as shown in Fig. 1. To hold the various disks together and prevent relative rotation between the diierent disks as well as to permit theV disks to be assembled on the pivot Si with ease during construction of the device, there is provided a pin l2 which extends through openings la and lla in the respective disks. These openings Illa and I la are eccentric relative to the openings in the disks receiving the pivot 9 and the openings Illa in the disks iii are disposed vmidway between a pair oi prongs, while the openings .lla in the disks Il are disposed in radial alinement with one of the prongs. Y

In using the device, a piece of tough meat such for example as round steak, or the like, may be laid on a table, whereupon the handle 5 may be grasped and the disks may be rapidly run over the meat, the cleaver being pressed rmly against the meat. The prongs on the disks lil and Il will penetrate into the meat, so as to puncture the surfaces thereof and the sharpened wedgeshaped ends of the prongs will sever the muscles and other tissues in the meat. The heavy blade 6 serves to cause the prongs to penetrate deeply into the meat and it also acts as a weight permitting the meat to be hammered, if this is desirable. In other words, the cleaver can be swung so that the prongs of the disks I0 and Il will penetrate deeply into the meat andthe deadV weight ofthe blade B will cause a thorough penetrating action. Of course, the sharpened edge 'l of the cleaver can be used in the usual manner.

There is preferably provided an opening i3 through the blade 6 near its forward end in order to permit the device to be hung as from a nail or peg.

With the present invention, the toughest meats can be made tender and juicy with but slight effort and in a remarkably short time. The device of the invention has been successfully. demonstrated in actual practice.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of `the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention, which generallyV stated, consists in the v matter shown and described and set forth in the 'appended claim.

What is claimed isz- In a comb-ined manually operated cleaver and meat tenderer wherein the cleaver has a handle lying substantially in the same plane therewith, a supporting bracket integrally formed from the material of the cleaver and extending from the forward end and upper edge of the cleaver f2' 1 *i v2,096,126 N proper upwardly, said support comprising a'par forward edge thereof Ysubstantal'ly in Contact `of spaced arms between which a series of prongedr Ywith the surface Vof the neat to be tendered or VWheels'axially-aligned are mounted constitutingVY whereby the Cleaver; may be Vreclgrocated and si- Y the tenderer, the forward edge of said support Vmul'aneously actuate the Ytendererv when the. -'rbeing in alignment Witlr-Ythewforward'edgeof Ythe handle Vend thereof is moved substantially *paral 5 Cleaver whereby thertenderer maybemanipulated 1e1 to the meat surface. Y lk j Y 1 with faility whenrthe Cleaver-'is held withthe Y Y GUST LUNDQUIST 

